tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50117075228175714292023-10-30T01:45:03.236-07:00©Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-73435909112751098882009-05-27T04:33:00.000-07:002009-05-27T05:00:35.089-07:00Akira Hymie W. Couch<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sh0n6oQQ75I/AAAAAAAAC6I/nxI7OUJSMxg/s1600-h/DSC00059.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340468621322809234" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sh0n6oQQ75I/AAAAAAAAC6I/nxI7OUJSMxg/s320/DSC00059.JPG" /></a><br /><div> </div><div>Born Wednesday May 27, 2009 a little after 6 pm.</div><div> </div><div>(Too exausted to ask for exact time of birth. I will post more details later when I can think straight.)</div>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-83960721125913688722009-05-15T18:46:00.000-07:002009-05-15T20:01:59.349-07:00The first of many...Baby videos!<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dykwe9qapzXJEH5xHLMNjtb8aRL-W2aMqRs34nV1WbwMty44N6yJm3Rjb2DF6Jdb0rT527pBBWP_2M_mm5bGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-rXYuu1rVfXTCL7dG0D9I-niDN9tsSaNCjTyegTrZETxt0w325DJsueZYInzrjKURf_Y0E7nBh9zAcmcVFg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-75794328991384888632009-04-08T19:07:00.001-07:002009-04-08T19:10:34.538-07:00Per request of the Shamalamaship.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sd1YprSt3cI/AAAAAAAAC6A/9luy5KMU6V4/s1600-h/DSC_1841.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sd1YprSt3cI/AAAAAAAAC6A/9luy5KMU6V4/s320/DSC_1841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322507807640903106" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Who lives in a apartment in Kuroishi?</div><div><br /></div><div>Sponge Risa Tight Pants!</div>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-57399993989436577662009-03-15T21:38:00.000-07:002009-03-16T03:37:13.837-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">IT<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">IS<br /><br /><br /><br />A<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />BOY!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:50;">Here is the ultra-sound scan where you can see his "boy parts".<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sb3Zjj4HKOI/AAAAAAAAC5o/4i6kEQAkDy8/s1600-h/napoleon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sb3Zjj4HKOI/AAAAAAAAC5o/4i6kEQAkDy8/s320/napoleon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313642340316293346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:50;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />*actual scan unavailable<br />*do not confuse with Napoleon Dynomite, he is authentic Dyno-mite!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sb4rTlJxSAI/AAAAAAAAC5w/muUp53R3Dd4/s1600-h/DSC_1616.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/Sb4rTlJxSAI/AAAAAAAAC5w/muUp53R3Dd4/s320/DSC_1616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313732225734363138" border="0" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-38432109458271853342008-12-21T19:59:00.000-08:002008-12-21T20:37:00.340-08:0017 Weeks!Pregers Update!<br /><br />She is starting to burst at the seems! (Actually she is not showing that bad yet. We account it to her height.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8QucOTRqI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/xF0tL_eYQW4/s1600-h/DSC_1327-1.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8QucOTRqI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/xF0tL_eYQW4/s320/DSC_1327-1.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8RNYtXhzI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/LODyqbMpISg/s1600-h/Baby+Dec+08.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8RNYtXhzI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/LODyqbMpISg/s320/Baby+Dec+08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282459809597589298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="clear: both;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div><br />Going into the 17th week the baby is doing great. We got to hear Dynamite's heartbeat for the first time today. It was amazingly fast but the doctor said it sounded strong and healthy.<br /><br />Risa is now at the point where she can't fit into any of her old clothes and we had to do a little more maternity shopping this past weekend. I suggested to save money we just get a few muu-muus but she wasn't into that.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8USMq4uHI/AAAAAAAAC4g/SimFkW4I4z4/s1600-h/DSC_1332.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8USMq4uHI/AAAAAAAAC4g/SimFkW4I4z4/s320/DSC_1332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282463190800185458" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Just in time for the holidays our Christmas Cactus (Denmark Cactus) is starting to bloom. For the longest time we thought it was never going to bloom again, and like clockwork it opens right before Xmas day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8USXyXR2I/AAAAAAAAC4o/o_pUqOXJ3mc/s1600-h/DSC_1334.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8USXyXR2I/AAAAAAAAC4o/o_pUqOXJ3mc/s320/DSC_1334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282463193784338274" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Ris at our Christmas corner. Complete with a Festivus Pole!<br /><br />For the rest of us, Happy Festivus!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8UTICk5II/AAAAAAAAC4w/_zFg8k_9GY8/s1600-h/DSC_1328.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8UTICk5II/AAAAAAAAC4w/_zFg8k_9GY8/s320/DSC_1328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282463206737241218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is what we woke up to this morning. It is supposed to continue falling the rest of the week!<br /><br />Oh, and btw.<br /><br />We were officially married December 5th, 2008. The same day Risa's sister, mother, and grandmother were married! The actual marriage was very simple. Signed a few papers and handed over some cash. It was kind of a strange feeling when we were completely finished...the guy actually said "Thank you for all your hard work" at the end. Not "Congratulation" or anything. It felt like we just helped the guy shovel the walk or something!<br /><br />But we are now officially Mr. and Mrs. Couch. Risa is already getting strange looks when she uses her full name, Risa Couch. A very foreign sounding name here. Yep, we're rockin' the boat here in Kuroishi!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8Yhmp4P1I/AAAAAAAAC5I/O8iYPuqC84o/s1600-h/DSC_1099-1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8Yhmp4P1I/AAAAAAAAC5I/O8iYPuqC84o/s320/DSC_1099-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282467853519830866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's been a long time coming and we are not even half way!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8YJ4aygII/AAAAAAAAC5A/DCabS90o6og/s1600-h/DSC_0973.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SU8YJ4aygII/AAAAAAAAC5A/DCabS90o6og/s320/DSC_0973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282467445971517570" border="0" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-4001600588585060592008-10-29T19:18:00.000-07:002008-10-29T19:34:48.266-07:00Week 9We have had our second doctor's visit and everything is looking good!<br /><br />Here is the latest ultrasound of Thunderstruck "Dynamite" Couch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SQka2CfVBEI/AAAAAAAAC3k/oY-GXvcm2W0/s1600-h/Baby+9+Weeks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SQka2CfVBEI/AAAAAAAAC3k/oY-GXvcm2W0/s320/Baby+9+Weeks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262767155242665026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The two white crosses are his/her measurement. A healthy 22mm!<br /><br />The doctors at Kuroishi hospital reminded us that they do not use any pain killers during birth. Risa was a little concerned since we would like to have a natural birth.<br /><br />I reassured her that it couldn't be any worse than this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SQkcP-6f_NI/AAAAAAAAC3s/cglbLQ1ACOI/s1600-h/alien+birth.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SQkcP-6f_NI/AAAAAAAAC3s/cglbLQ1ACOI/s320/alien+birth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262768700471114962" border="0" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-44039289252873668462008-10-14T21:44:00.000-07:002008-10-25T17:11:06.835-07:00Father To BeOctober 6th, 2008 will be a day to remember! For everyone! For it is the day that Shamalama was told that he will be a father!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SPV2S577nEI/AAAAAAAACFA/TH8LfBoh6N8/s1600-h/Ultrasound+Oct+8th.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SPV2S577nEI/AAAAAAAACFA/TH8LfBoh6N8/s320/Ultrasound+Oct+8th.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257238207186836546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the first recorded picture of the soon to be famous<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" ><strike>DYNAMITE COUCH!!!</strike></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: lucida grande;">THUNDERSTRUCK COUCH</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">!!!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Name pending.)</span></span><br /><br />First grandson/daughter, first nephew/niece (sex also pending atm), first red-headed Japanese!<br /><br />For anyone who has forgotten to breath due to the shock of me becoming a father...<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"Deep breath, there ya go, now through your noes, aaahhh, that's better..."</span><br /><br />Risa is now in her 8th week and we will know the exact due date by next doctor visit. Looking at a few charts the date should be around the end of May, beginning of June.<br /><br />Oh, and since my choice of name will probably be shot down any suggestions are appreciated!<br /><br />I will leave you with a couple pictures my grandmother sent me recently of two little devils some of you might recognize.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SPV7y07azUI/AAAAAAAACFI/EaVvKAgUbLs/s1600-h/Planxty%27s+B-Day+84.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SPV7y07azUI/AAAAAAAACFI/EaVvKAgUbLs/s320/Planxty%27s+B-Day+84.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257244253156461890" border="0" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-26998145668821879132008-08-06T18:43:00.000-07:002008-08-06T19:35:15.540-07:00Kuroishi Neputa Fesitval '08It's summer in Japan again and the festivals have started! On a side note I have been living here in Aomori for one year. Time really knows how to fly! Just one year ago I made my <a href="http://shamalamaland.blogspot.com/2007/08/first-week-back-in-japan.html">first post</a> here and included a short video of the Neputa festival in Aomori City. Unfortunately we weren't able to get up to Aomori City to see the big festival so I instead watched the local one here in Kuroishi.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589564404756594"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpW_Zz8cHI/AAAAAAAACCI/ZX9ZveO6DB0/s400/DSC08359.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Almost every town in this area has it's own small version of Neputa. Each district within a city participates with their own home made floats. I noticed that some floats were pretty large and extravagant!<br /><br />Such as this one:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589648298342450"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXESVu-DI/AAAAAAAACDY/noOeTmi-opQ/s400/DSC08395.JPG" /></a><br /><br />But there was also room for the smaller ones too:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589662172337762"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXFGBjVmI/AAAAAAAACDo/U1mkcF7pq_I/s400/DSC08405.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589671713500930"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXFpkV7wI/AAAAAAAACDw/I6bUtAu-IVI/s400/DSC08413.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The kids were pretty much all my students. I almost interrupted the whole procession when I waved and they tried to wave back while maintaining their drumming.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589590307439602"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXA6ToA_I/AAAAAAAACCg/4NShQaRfkCc/s400/DSC08365.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589613489638338"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXCQqsS8I/AAAAAAAACC4/Pb2WK62RJ10/s400/DSC08382.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Some more of my students.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589622769305234"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXCzPIxpI/AAAAAAAACDA/TWUQsta2b5Y/s400/DSC08388.JPG" /></a><br /><br />David and I were lucky enough to see the process of making these floats and helped a little on one. They are pretty much just wire mesh with thick paper glued on. The crescent shaped ones usually have a hydraulic lift underneath them. They will stop every once in a while and spin and lift for a roaring applause by the crowd. The larger more elaborate ones with demons and warriors are usually spun by human power.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589642068490242"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXD7Ia-AI/AAAAAAAACDQ/vF6qc6v2Ijk/s400/DSC08394.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'll pull my darn float ya punks!</span><br /><br />This is a great photo of a group of high school kids. Nothing like giant drums to get the fun started!<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589692312017266"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXG2TaWXI/AAAAAAAACEI/O7Mg5vCB95I/s400/DSC08425.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Usually the front of the crescent shaped floats contain a battle scene, while the back usually has something similar to this:<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589707418893906"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXHulK_lI/AAAAAAAACEU/gJIidtnRS9o/s400/DSC08428.JPG" /></a><br />They females portrayed in the paintings are never very inviting...usually armed, and sometimes more snake-like than womanly.<br /><br />Speaking of womanly...<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589688793463762"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXGpMhe9I/AAAAAAAACEA/vxV6crZZMgI/s288/DSC08421.JPG" /></a><br />I guess no parade is complete without a cross dresser.<br /><br />The festival usually continues for five days straight with processions every night and a final one the morning of the last day. They always happen the first week of August and are unique to this area. Next week is the dance festival, Yosare. I will try to get some more photos of that and post it up. Risa and I will be in Hokkaido but we will be back just in time to catch the final night. Summer truly is an exciting time in Japan!<br /><br />I will leave you with Obi-wan Neputa Jedi! Check out those sandals!<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/KuroishiNeputa0802/photo#5231589710684714370"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SJpXH6vzdYI/AAAAAAAACEc/ZhdTum8jdlQ/s400/DSC08429.JPG" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-53366924696651897682008-07-27T18:51:00.000-07:002008-07-27T19:22:11.034-07:00The WeddingFinally getting a post up about my trip back to Missoula to attend (groomsman!!) my good friends Jonathan and Ayumi's wedding. It was a crazy fast four days back in Missoula. I managed to see almost everyone at least once (Even got Sam to come out of his hovel and visit!) and met a few old faces randomly around town whilst shopping for Uhmerican goods that I can't get here in Japanland.<br /><br />The wedding was held up in beautiful Seeley Lake, Montana. A perfect wedding in my book, simple and not too flashy. Although I didn't plan it so simple might be a huge understatement. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222829401086885698"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs3qyY__0I/AAAAAAAAB84/vgKfjxeAqW0/s400/Bridesmaids.jpg" /></a><br />Here are our beautiful bridesmaids. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222829936789030914"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs4J-CWCAI/AAAAAAAAB9M/nvKf2KyAz-Y/s400/Groomsmen.jpg" /></a><br />And our Resavoir Dogs Groomsmen.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222831780745635778"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs51TT258I/AAAAAAAAB-o/mg-YKCifbFc/s400/Belly%20Bump.jpg" /></a><br />Only one knocked up braidsmaid... It was a non-traditional wedding.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222831639139929986"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs5tDybT4I/AAAAAAAAB-k/js8Je5FOwSQ/s400/Goma.jpg" /></a><br />The honorary 5th Groomsman. He was a wild one, too wild even for the main ceremony.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222831505745509986"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs5lS2t_mI/AAAAAAAAB-g/EHEmsEJxpeg/s400/Smatt%20%2526%20Goma.jpg" /></a><br />There was only one man who could control the 5th Groomsman, Smatt "Pugman" Read<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222829270197329602"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs3jKyf3sI/AAAAAAAAB8w/SbQ-UR7OA-I/s400/The%20Parents.jpg" /></a><br />The paparazzi was there taking over 1200 pictures. (Mostly of people's chins and feet.)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222830071462963698"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs4RzvHKfI/AAAAAAAAB9U/3GohAo-t9z8/s400/Bride%20Delivery.jpg" /></a><br />A burden light as a feather, right Jonathan?<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222830188237386274"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs4YmwTciI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/FBqbzymG6IY/s400/Eating.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"and Jonathan, do you vow to always share your plate...."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222831891623442194"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs57wXL9xI/AAAAAAAAB-s/kJxTfAtnjUo/s400/Dancing%20Sunlight.jpg" /></a><br />Their love is bright as the sun. (Sam kept doing "The Randal" we tried to stop him, but he seemed to enjoy it so much we left him to it.)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/seamus.couch/Wedding/photo#5222830420798542930"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs4mJHNFFI/AAAAAAAAB9k/XOju-TDYmqg/s400/Partner%20Switch.jpg" /></a><br />This is a great photo of the partner switch. (Jonathan watch those hands! That's my mother!)<br /><br />I am very glad to have been able to see this wedding. It was well worth the trip back and forth. I know there are hundreds of more pictures out there. There was a lot of shenanigans and goings on that I wasn't able to capture (mostly because I was part of them) so maybe once Jonathan gets those all collected we can get a full album posted.Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-18462979589125348732008-07-27T16:19:00.000-07:002008-07-27T18:49:56.058-07:00River Fishing in JapanIt was a beautiful day this past Sunday here in Kuroishi. Risa and I were bored out of our skulls so we decided to take a drive up river and see if we could find a place to fish and relax. I had fished a little while living in Yamagata but for the most part never caught anything. It seems the rivers are pretty void of fish which may or may not have anything to do with the constant draining of them for rice fields, rerouting them with concrete which seems to demand the driving of backhoes right through the riverbed, or the old guys down there everyday with nets scooping out large numbers of tiny fish.<br /><br />Anyhoo, the catching of actual fish is just a small percentage of fishing, right? We loaded up some snacks and beer, bought some overpriced tackle at the local fish shop, and started our drive up towards Lake Towada.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227872620371852962"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0icyRBPqI/AAAAAAAACAc/aaijQ4EsE3A/s400/DSC_0928.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The river along this route is very beautiful but also very difficult to access. We were lucky enough to find a small turn off that ended in a small parking area. We had stopped a few places before we found this one but were unsuccessful in finding a path down to the river. The underbrush here in Japan is very thick and hard to navigate. I really don't know what kind of plants to avoid or what kind of critters to expect here so I figured we wouldn't risk it. (In fact later that day we were harassed by this humongous bee which turns out has a fatal sting!)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227872612928898338"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0icWiexSI/AAAAAAAACAU/IvlDBZSBv9I/s400/DSC_0927.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227837270561790482"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0CTJ9iGhI/AAAAAAAAB_4/iYIy6M3sNP8/s400/DSC_0972.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227837278478812178"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0CTndGRBI/AAAAAAAACAA/NZRuno3Q8bs/s400/DSC_0990.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">She had casting down to an art by late afternoon!</span><br /><br />After three hours of casting and not a single nibble I decided to try different bait.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227872626497944146"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0idJFl-lI/AAAAAAAACAk/ly20bm1hv8Y/s400/DSC_0939.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Still not hits but you have to remember these are very small fish and my bait might have been a little large. (By the way, I forgot any sort of swimwear in case you aren't catching on here.)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/FishingInJapan/photo#5227837282377201074"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SI0CT1-i9bI/AAAAAAAACAI/fXbp_dbcso4/s400/DSC_1022.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There were hundreds of these guys down there with us.</span><br /><br />No fish but a beautiful Sunday. Next time we will try up river a little further and maybe even try out Lake Towada. Oh, and in case anyone was wondering. We asked the fishing shop owner if we needed licenses and he responded, yeah, kind of, but nobody really cares and no one ever checks you...Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-18752399273072626812008-07-23T17:29:00.000-07:002008-07-23T17:35:09.594-07:00Ten Yen Booty!This morning I found a ten yen coin stuck to Risa's butt cheek. She had slept all night with it stuck there.<br /><br />It is very hot and humid here in Japan and you tend to get very sticky.<br /><br />That is all.Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-19785975950010475992008-07-17T19:42:00.000-07:002008-07-23T17:35:27.749-07:00Parents Visit Japan '08There have been two major events in the last...well, three months that both rightly deserve their own posts. My parents trip to visit us here in Japan and my crazy fast trip back home for the union of two very close friends of mine. Since my parents visited back in April/May chronologically speaking their post will come first. In a undetermined about of time I will follow up with my adventures back in Missoula. Hopefully by then I will have more pictures to share. Being a groomsman I could only shoot a limited amount of pictures at the wedding.<br /><br />Back in April, 2008 my parents came to visit Risa and I in Kuroishi. We traveled around Aomori prefecture visiting onsens, temples, and giant Bhuddas!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826888736026146"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1YjJ4LiI/AAAAAAAAB6s/cDzlhXv4xII/s400/DSC_0966.jpg" /></a><br /><br />My parents were lucky enough to have landed just at the end of the cherry blossom season. We have tons of photos of cherry blossoms. I think by the end of their stay we were all pretty tired of pink flowers.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827015197281170"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1f6Qly5I/AAAAAAAAB6w/ZKrDLaeuvpM/s288/DSC_1037.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Next stop sake! There is a traditional sake brewing house on the main street of Kuroishi. I think they regret offering The Couch/Alexander crew a free taste testing. We managed to try every flavor twice I think. We also got a free tour of their garden behind the brewery. A very traditional Japanese garden complete with 700 year old trees and Buddha statues. (I will have to sort through my photos at home and see if I can dig up a good picture of this amazing garden.)<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827152616934082"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1n6L_SsI/AAAAAAAAB64/nc4yCg8yrGo/s288/DSC_1043.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sake Goggles.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827273375692354"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1u8DHtkI/AAAAAAAAB68/DTFj-A-FeKc/s400/DSC_0887.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This was on our drive up to the onsen. We stopped at a bridge to snap a few pics and Dad almost lost his favorite hat!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827396883419698"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs12IJqEjI/AAAAAAAAB7A/gt8wjbq_X0g/s400/DSC_0904.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here is the entry to the onsen. It claims to be able to fit 1000 people into the bath at the same time. It's a mixed bath house (both sexes can get in!) but it was kind of a let down. They have the baths divided so I couldn't even sit with my girl without being harassed by an attendant. Not to mention all the Japanese guys who would ogle the ladies side without even trying to make it conspicuous.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827524147916754"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs19iP4L9I/AAAAAAAAB7I/1y3KV6R0X_k/s400/DSC_0908.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">She just had to have ice cream.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827687206711266"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2HBsH7-I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/QsZvjSI4p8E/s400/DSC_0156.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where are we again?</span><br /><br />Next was an amazing temple at the base of Mt. Iwaki. A huge volcano that dominates this whole region of japan. It really looks like Mt. Fuji sometimes in late spring! We are pretty far from it at our house so it's hard to get a good picture of it.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827768247974114"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2Lvl3eOI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/y2ckQ7iLLHY/s400/DSC_0183.jpg" /></a><br />One of my favorite pictures. I liked it so much that I had to have a little fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826707496491906"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1N__AW4I/AAAAAAAAB6U/67AlaBxH76g/s144/BuddistGeisha.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826717453623218"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1OlE-H7I/AAAAAAAAB6Y/5Lra3FjJ3rA/s144/Gargoth.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826737526855938"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1Pv2zWQI/AAAAAAAAB6c/1-HqP0ByxJo/s144/The_Wall.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826742490021698"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1QCWHP0I/AAAAAAAAB6g/rxflYOMXSMY/s144/Little%20Buddhas%20copy.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826762404645170"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1RMiISTI/AAAAAAAAB6k/tBxTZH6sS_Y/s144/moscow-kremlin-5.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222826778719770562"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs1SJT9V8I/AAAAAAAAB6o/AskeNOG5AcI/s144/Iraq-m1_abrams.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827948092975938"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2WNkQa0I/AAAAAAAAB7k/gKOiS7c0geQ/s144/Earth%20Horizon.jpg" /></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827974008285826"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2XuG8qoI/AAAAAAAAB7o/iRrBC_2DU3o/s144/china.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And my favorite!</span><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827986573635730"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2Yc6wsJI/AAAAAAAAB7w/tAcrBwWEeHA/s288/Big%20in%20Da%20White%20House%20Small.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827841609975970"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2QA4uyKI/AAAAAAAAB7c/uU0b7ByFJz4/s144/DSC_0189.jpg" /></a><br />This is all that is left of Hirosaki Castle. We took a lot of cherry blossom photos here but most are from my Dad's camera.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222827922337605170"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2UtnspjI/AAAAAAAAB7g/MRPKs1ehWII/s288/DSC_0244.jpg" /></a><br />We had a lot of luck encounters on this trip. There are two major festivals in this region throughout the year but we didn't time either of them for the trip. Instead, I heard about this festival that was a miniature presentation (practice maybe) of the big festivals combined into one parade. My supervisor took us to it in Hirosaki and then treated us to munchies and beer at a local bar.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828052388329874"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2cSGNOZI/AAAAAAAAB70/AD47kbd-Lyg/s400/DSC_0109.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This is the largest outdoor Buddha statue in Japan. It stands at something like 25 meters tall. It's located kind of out in the middle of nowhere in Aomori and when we visited we saw maybe three other visitors. This was during a popular vacation period too!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828219135571090"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2l_R2NJI/AAAAAAAAB78/g5PMHjDvSxg/s400/DSC_0040.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you look closely you can see a very rare Red Tipped Trout spawning upstream!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828296250443058"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2qejdxTI/AAAAAAAAB8A/jVzweUQTyeA/s288/DSC_0069.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The sushi chef told my mom if she could drink a pint in 10 seconds it would be free. Boy did he learn his lesson!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828373517926338"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs2u-Zd_8I/AAAAAAAAB8I/EwaOMpZ7Cmg/s288/DSC_0119.jpg" /></a><br />The donckey rider! Boy did that last a long time. Right up there with <a href="http://blog.rifftrax.com/2008/07/20/in-case-your-percussion-based-workout-isnt-doing-the-trick-for-you/">Snarezzercise</a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828825636623186"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs3JSq901I/AAAAAAAAB8c/7OFP80w6gis/s400/DSC_0699.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></span><span>Even with his newly purchased Oji-san hat (old dude hat) my Dad still placed second in the "Funny Hat Contest'! This was up at Lake Towada. A huge crater lake resort where we stayed one night at a hostel. It was a busy weekend and in customary Seamus fashion I didn't try to make reservations at a real hotel until a few days before. Above the lake we explored the Oirase Gorge. It was a beautiful walk with many great waterfalls to view.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/DoublePost/photo?authkey=EabvtjezVuU#5222828914004177906"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/seamus.couch/SHs3Ob3bs_I/AAAAAAAAB8g/GkR6wlCGNi0/s400/DSC_0229.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We strive to impress.</span><br /><br /></span><span>Since we took over 2000 pictures between us all I better stop here. I need to go through all the pictures because I know there are some real gems in there. Maybe a follow up post with the best of the best photos will come later.</span>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-11250207744925610332008-05-29T17:07:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:17.487-08:00The Koban Adventure!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SD9UTP3pK_I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/_SfpeahxVEY/s1600-h/koban+paperwork.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SD9UTP3pK_I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/_SfpeahxVEY/s320/koban+paperwork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205972383917747186" border="0" /></a><br />So, last week Risa and I made our usual trip to the local supermarket for some grub. We needed some cash so we stopped by the ATM. The ATMs here are more like giant phone booths that are large enough to be modest Japanese apartments complete with an air conditioner/heater. I guess this is meant to make up for the more than worthless bank hours of 9am to 3pm.<br /><br />The size and convenience of these ATMs is also further proof that Japan has never and will never have issues with transients or vandals. If these ATMs were located in the States I guarantee that they would be inhabited by no less than 20 homeless people, dozens of small fury rodents, and probably a high schooler or two every time you tried to pull out some cash.<br /><br />But I stray. Upon entering the ATM I discovered some poor schmuck's license and health insurance card lying on the small table next to the machine. Being the upstanding citizens that we are we took the found items to the police box (koban) that sits just on the far side of the market's parking lot.<br /><br />(I will restrain myself from ranting about the nerve grating fact that I have never seen a person actually stop at the cross walks in front of the market, speeding past kids and grandmothers at 30 km/h as they leave the shop, and carelessly parking wherever the hell they want including directly in front of the bike/wheelchair access ramp! All this while four police officers sit in their little box not more than 100 yards away with their thumbs up their asses! {restraint of actual ranting not included in this post})<br /><br />Once in the koban I of course leave all the talking to Risa. She hands over the cards explaining that we found them in the ATM not five minutes ago. Now that all four officers have jumped out of their desks and completely awoken from their naps a huge commotion of filing, logging, and note taking explodes into action. One officer starts asking Risa for all of HER information including name, date of birth, residence, and probably blood type. After he has completely hand written this on an official form he tells us to "please wait a bit" and takes it over to another officer about five feet away. This second officer then beings to log all of this information into his computer. Mind you this officer has been sitting here the entire time listening to our conversation! WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO THIS COMPLETELY WORTHLESS STEP WHILE WE AREN'T HERE?! (I think in my mind first in English then in horribly elementary Japanese.)<br /><br />At this point we have been sitting in the koban no less than 20 minutes. It seems than when items are found in Japan you can request to have them returned to the finder if no one claims them in a certain amount of time. Hence the logging of all of Risa's pertinent information. I could see how this would be nice if we found the guys entire wallet! Knowing how much cash most Japanese carry around with them at all times I could probably pay off our car payment and have enough left over for a six-pack of the quality beer! But the fact is we found only a drivers license and health insurance card of some middle aged factory worker. I suppose if I was a little more shady in character I could use the license to start driving. Which, knowing Aomori drivers I would probably need the health insurance card too.<br /><br />Around the 2o minute mark when Risa and I have lost all hope in ever returning to our normal lives Absentminded-san himself walks into the koban! He asks if anyone has dropped off a license and health card and everyone has a jolly old laugh. Once the side splitting irony wears of the officer asks him to take a seat and hands him...wait for it...no, he doesn't hand him his cards, he hands him MORE forms! Probably to be filled out in triplicate, lost, found, re-recorded, burried, dug-up, and finally stored in the City Hall basement. (I have actually been there and it resembles the storage facility at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark!)<br /><br />As the poor guy was filling out his forms to get his license back Risa and I were finally 'dismissed'. Our 15 minute market trip had turned into an hour long ordeal but somehow I think Ohfuckwhereismylicense-san had a rougher time of it. I hope he brought some snacks and water because he may still be there today! Now I think I am going to go back to the crosswalks in front of the market and walk back and forth extremely slowly for a few hours. Maybe I will drop by and spend a few hours filling out a 'dropped by to chat' form at the local koban, too.Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-62075074213825985772008-04-15T16:17:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:17.753-08:00The Flying Soba Monster!No. This post has no connection to <a href="http://www.venganza.org/">The Flying <i>Spaghetti </i>Monster</a> and everything to do with Japanese interrogation through subtle force feeding and extreme hospitality!<br /><br />Yes, <i>extreme </i>hospitality! The kind of hospitality that would drive you to imagine such excuses as, "<span style="font-style: italic;">I couldn't sleep very well last night because of unmentionable reasons that may or may not have to do with things that I can't explain because I am really just making things up</span>," or possibly, "<span style="font-style: italic;">I think I left my blender on</span>" just so you could leave the party early and maybe have a chance to catch a short nap before your stomach and intestines explode in a way that normally happens behind closed doors and not in a strangers living room. This kind of hospitality drives normal well adjusted people to wish they were maladjusted with no friends and lived in a shack in the woods. This is Japanese hospitality.<br /><br />Let me start at the beginning. My fellow ALT and I were invited to a soba making party. Soba, as some of you know, is buckwheat. Not one of my favorite bland cardboard-esque noodles but in small helpings can be quite filling and easily digestible. One medium sized bowl of soba is in itself a filling and complete meal. This was my believe before I ate enough soba to choke a horse anyway. Now, I believe I will never enjoy soba in any shape or form for the rest of my life. Even seeing the word stirs memories of twenty course meals of soba chips, raw soba with soy sauce, deep fried soba, and soba pudding. After the pudding was served my memory becomes a little fuzzy which I account to the pain induced from putting 40 lbs of soba in a container designed to hold 9 lbs at most (this container of course being my stomach).<br /><br />Early in the afternoon of the now infamous <i>Ten Levels of Soba Hell Day</i> we headed over to the Soba Master's house so we could help him make the noodles from scratch and experience a little Japanese culture. It turns out making soba is about as hard as eating it! After kneading a lump of soba dough about the size of my head to the point that it is hard enough to break a car window (which according to the Soba Master the hardness is directly related to how much water remains in the dough with less water equaling a better, lighter, taste) you have to roll it out till it is as thin as a one yen coin (about a penny's width). With five grown men working on this black hole of soba mass I still believe the soba came out 0 for 10 with possibly two TKOs!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SAVleGwa43I/AAAAAAAAB44/XUyn2at_Rx0/s1600-h/soba+small.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SAVleGwa43I/AAAAAAAAB44/XUyn2at_Rx0/s320/soba+small.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189665713498547058" border="0" /></a><br />Never fear though for humans rarely stay down when beaten! With our losses behind us we reach for our best offense; weaponry. A soba knife is a magnificent weapon and one I would most likely choose if say the residence of Tokyo were taken over by mind controlling soba monsters and I had to hack my way to safety. The Soba Master wielded his weapon of choice with the finesse of a thousand generations of samurai warriors which in turn made me look like I couldn't find my own butt with both hands. Chalk one more up for The Great Soba Monster!<p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">After shredding the soba into small enough pieces to handle one on one we retired into the living room. Now on to the hospitality! After divvying the drinks out and the obligatory toast the fruits of our labor was dished to us in every shape and form. I couldn't be more wrong is saying that we had finally defeated the <span style="font-style: italic;">Soba Monster</span> and were enjoying the feast of it's remains. The facade of satisfaction quickly fell after the fifth serving of <span style="font-style: italic;">sobaic concoctions</span>. The revenge of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Soba Monster</span> from being kneaded, squished, and cut into small strips was palpable in every sense of the word. Once inside its host the <span style="font-style: italic;">Soba Monster</span> will start to expand and grow. It will then call to its Japanese slaves demanding more of its brethren be brought out and added to its ranks. Once hole again in the host's stomach it returns to its original car window shattering strength and beats the host until they are lain prone in a most embarrassing splayed position.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SAVjXGwa42I/AAAAAAAAB4w/0UB-O0xmzCg/s1600-h/InfinEight1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/SAVjXGwa42I/AAAAAAAAB4w/0UB-O0xmzCg/s320/InfinEight1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189663394216207202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:webdings;" >Typical Soba Monster victim.</span><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Now the thing about Japanese hospitality is that it is strongest when you are at your weakest. Once in the splayed position with no energy left to digest let alone ingest the Japanese hostess will pounce! They know your weakness of gratitude and will exploit it till you have eaten every last piece of food in their arsenal. Try to imagine committing suicide by holding your breath and you will begin to grasp how difficult it is to refuse food that is being offered by a Japanese hostess. A typical offering of food in Japan goes something like this. Japanese Hostess: “<span style="font-style: italic;">Here is some soba pudding!</span>” Me: “<span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, looks good, but no thank you, I am very full!</span>” JH: “<span style="font-style: italic;">Soba pudding is very good!!</span>” Me: “<span style="font-style: italic;">Yeah, it sure looks good, but no thank you.</span>” JH: “<span style="font-style: italic;">SOBA...PUDDING...GOOD!!!</span>” Me: “<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm just...</span>” JH: “<span style="font-style: italic;">You don't like soba? It's too salty? It's too sweet? You can't eat soba at all?!?</span>” Me: “<span style="font-style: italic;">No, really, I like soba but..</span>.” JH: “<span style="font-style: italic;">I knew it! Foreigners can't handle soba. Would you like some more rice?</span>” At this point I recommend feigning death and hoping they don't bury you so that they can dig you up and eat you later on. Oh, wait that's for black bears. Well, I think it might be your best bet in this situation too.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">By the end of the night after I had explained that I wasn't dead and that I was just very sleepy I was driven home in a catatonic soba induced haze. I still believe the boss (I have multiple) who drove me home refuses to speak to me again for fear I will tell him more truths of my childhood that include barbwire fences and close call losses of manhood which I may or may not have spilled thinking I was being interrogated by the <span style="font-style: italic;">Japanese Soba Police</span> for crimes against hospitality. Come to think of it I never saw our host eat a single piece of Soba.</p>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-54737944389821635532008-03-10T16:27:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:18.500-08:00Hina Matsuri (Dolls Festival)The Japanese have a lot of holidays. I think ten months out of the year have holidays actually. This is great since I am guaranteed at least one three day weekend every month! The fact is that this amount of festivity shows the depth of culture and tradition here. These holidays are not counting your typical western holidays that are also celebrated here (to a certain extent) such as Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines Day. The last being celebrated backasswards with the women giving the men chocolates. And I mean all the men! They even have to give their male bosses chocolates! But don't worry ladies this is countered with White Day held in March where the men return the giving with candy and such.<br /><br />à la the title this post isn't about White Day but the <i>Hina Matsuri</i>. <i>Hina</i> can be directly translated to Doll with <i>Matsuri</i> meaning Festival. The event is traced back to the Heian Period (794-1185 CE) and is celebrated on the third day of the third month of the year. Traditionally the dolls were believed to hold bad spirits and at the end of the festival they would be placed on small boats made of grass and floated down a stream. This traditional practice known as <i>hina-nagashi</i> doesn't seem to be as popular lately possibly due to the sheer number of dolls that would be floating down every stream and canal in Japan.<br /><br />Nowadays, the dolls are placed upon a typically seven-tiered stand with the Emperor and Empress at the top. Here is a picture I took of one at a kindergarten where I was invited to celebrate the festival.<br /><br /><div align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XVFD0EBhI/AAAAAAAAB4E/PgLHQrDUQu4/s1600-h/DSC07719.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XVFD0EBhI/AAAAAAAAB4E/PgLHQrDUQu4/s320/DSC07719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176277629631989266" /></a> <br /></div><br /><br />There seems to be many different traditional foods eaten during the festival. The kindergarten served <i>macha</i> with sweet candies. The principal at the school told me that you first eat the sweet candies then drink the <i>macha</i> (a very bitter green tea). The two juxtaposing tastes make for a very good blend. In other parts of Japan where I have celebrated this festival I was served <i>amazake</i> (a very thick low-alcohol version of sake) and small soy-sauce flavored crackers called <i>arare</i>. This combination gave the same sort of blend of flavors just with the food being bitter and the drink being sweet.<br /><br />Here are some more pictures at the kindergarten.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XWQT0EBiI/AAAAAAAAB4M/MErtVBNMdcU/s1600-h/DSC07749.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XWQT0EBiI/AAAAAAAAB4M/MErtVBNMdcU/s320/DSC07749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176278922417145378" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XWzj0EBjI/AAAAAAAAB4U/0yVi_XvZELQ/s1600-h/DSC07774.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XWzj0EBjI/AAAAAAAAB4U/0yVi_XvZELQ/s320/DSC07774.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176279528007534130" /></a><br /><br />The kids liked to show me their green tongues after drinking the <i>macha</i>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XYBT0EBkI/AAAAAAAAB4c/q2agVqUqhIY/s1600-h/DSC07748.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XYBT0EBkI/AAAAAAAAB4c/q2agVqUqhIY/s320/DSC07748.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176280863742363202" /></a><br /><br /><br />I have heard that the <i>Hina Matsuri</i> is traditionally known as Girls' Day with <i>Kodomo no hi</i>, which is celebrated in May, typically celebrated as Boys' Day. When May comes around I will try to snap some pictures of the carp shaped flags that pop up everywhere and give a little explanation of the origins of the holiday. (I have heard that there is some dispute about why Boys' Day is considered a National Holiday, i.e. they get a day off, while Girls' Day isn't. Meh, whatcha gonna do, it's Japan!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XY0T0EBlI/AAAAAAAAB4k/5n_-xUPjFAI/s1600-h/DSC07720.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R9XY0T0EBlI/AAAAAAAAB4k/5n_-xUPjFAI/s320/DSC07720.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176281739915691602" /></a>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-28332383837401025222008-03-03T18:09:00.000-08:002008-11-12T21:50:18.860-08:00HakodateWent to Hakodate this past weekend with everyone from my office.<br /><br />Every month we pay about $20 out of our paycheck to contribute to the end of the year party and the new year trip. This year I guess there were some scheduling conflicts so the new year trip didn't happen till March. It was worth the wait though!<br /><br />We took the train north to Hokkaido through the longest underground tunnel in the world. The 33 mile long Seikan Tunnel connects Hokkaido to Honshu and contains the first two undersea train stations. I guess the Honshu side station was demolished a few years ago in preparation for the new bullet train line that will connect Hokkaido to the rest of Japan's high speed train network.<br /><br />After arriving in Hakodate the first order of business was ramen! These guys are my kind of travel mates.<br /><br />We then spent a few hours trekking around Hakodate's port town. Being the first port to open to western trade routes there are many western style warehouses and historical hot spots. It is essentially a tourist trap now with tons of little shops selling everything from bongs (I'm not joking!) to giant stuffed Elmos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y0I7mmMyI/AAAAAAAABz0/GUTLsXcJX7s/s1600-h/DSC07685.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y0I7mmMyI/AAAAAAAABz0/GUTLsXcJX7s/s320/DSC07685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173708137473389346" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bloodthirsty Elmo of Death!</span><br /><br />After the souvenir shops we headed down to the Kitajima Saburo Museum. Sabu-chan is one of the most renowned enka (kind of a folk opera?) singers in Japan and was born in Hakodate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y1gLmmMzI/AAAAAAAABz8/aZyEvYob1cM/s1600-h/DSC07694.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y1gLmmMzI/AAAAAAAABz8/aZyEvYob1cM/s320/DSC07694.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173709636416975666" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Sea-chan and Sabu-chan Duet!</span><br /><br />Oh, better include some pictures of other people or somebody might mistake me for being a narcissist.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y2QLmmM0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/WhZtvlg67Co/s1600-h/DSC07696.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R8y2QLmmM0I/AAAAAAAAB0E/WhZtvlg67Co/s320/DSC07696.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173710461050696514" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">David and I hangin' with our main man Saburo.</span><br /><br />We also toured the religious district where you can find churches of almost every religion. In our short walk we passed a Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and a Buddhist Temple all within the same block. We took the tram, yep a tram, to our Japanese style hotel. Complete with tatami mat rooms, outside bath, and rigid eating schedule.<br /><br />The following day we spent a few hours shopping for souvenirs. I spent way to much but came home with chocolate covered potato chips, happy (gengki) sausages, and some chocolate liquor.<br /><br />We took the ferry back home instead of the train. Amazingly it is just as fast and I think a little cheaper. The new high speed ferry is very comfortable complete with a snack shop and lounge couches.<br /><br />That's it for now. I will update again in a few days with some pictures of the Hina Matsuri. An annual Dolls Festival with what seems to be a very deep traditional background.<br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/Hakodate08"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/seamus.couch/R8y8YrmmM1E/AAAAAAAAB3Q/V_CrWAuWYV0/s160-c/Hakodate08.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/Hakodate08" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Hakodate 08</a></td></tr></table>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-50867376343490867242008-02-03T01:20:00.000-08:002008-02-03T01:52:42.849-08:00Snow. Snow. Snow.Haven't posted in a while. I know. The same old excuse of not much going on lately won't cut it, but really...<br /><br /><br /><br />It's winter in Kuroishi!!<br /><br /><br /><br />Meh. Cabin fever.<br /><br /><br /><br />We are getting to watch a lot of movies. Just yesterday we went to see American Gangster. I think it came out in the States last November and has just now made it to Japan. If you haven't seen this and have three hours to spare someday I recommend it. I think it is a coming back for Ridley Scott from some of his recent blunders. There are a lot of trolling movie illiterati (I made this word up!) on IMDB who are bashing it but pay them no mind and check it out!<br /><br /><br /><br />I have also been working on uploading hundreds of more photos to my web album. Many pictures were taken by Ris or Dustin. Some of my favorites though are the close-ups include in the Rust, Moss, Bug and Urchin album!<br /><br /><br /><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/f/img/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/RustMossBugsAndUrchin"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/seamus.couch/R6WBghi0ZrE/AAAAAAAABhI/9U4h3iSlIs8/s160-c/RustMossBugsAndUrchin.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/seamus.couch/RustMossBugsAndUrchin" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Rust, Moss, Bugs, and Urchin</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Next weekend Ris and I are going to try and spend the night at an onsen for my birthday. It's located way up in the mountains, there is no electricity, and the whole place is heated and lighted by oil apparently. Everyone gets small oil lanterns at night and there are mixed outside baths. Right now though we are counting on a cancellation to get a room since they are all booked up. It's a three day weekend and will be crazy everywhere. Until after my B-day! Ciao!Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-3172805606608181222007-12-01T18:51:00.000-08:002008-11-12T21:50:19.236-08:00Merry Early Xmas Us!!<div><br /><br /><div>Yep, Christmas came a little early for Ris and I. Ris says it was my idea but I have to disagree. I saw that little twinkle in her eye when we tried out Ninja Gaiden Sigma at the electronic shop.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R1IjvUCD62I/AAAAAAAABZI/8KWn7f9nZoM/s1600-R/DSC07286.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139209420521335650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R1IjvUCD62I/AAAAAAAABZI/Z9IuxcblgqE/s320/DSC07286.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This thing has it all. With it networked to my computer I can browse my music, pictures, and movies and play them directly on the PS3. It cooks us breakfast in the morning and never overcooks the eggs, and it even gives me neck rubs after work. The only drawback is it sends DNA samples and brain scans back to Sony headquarters once a week.<br /><br /><br /><br />This is kind of old news but we bought a car last month. It's a Subaru Pleo and so far has been a great car. The gas mileage isn't as great as I think it could be which was a trade off for full time 4WD.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R1IkBkCD63I/AAAAAAAABZQ/6ie6h9kvaZY/s1600-R/DSC07132.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139209734053948274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/R1IkBkCD63I/AAAAAAAABZQ/U9QYwm8wgKs/s320/DSC07132.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It costs upwards of $3,000 to get a drivers license here so for the moment Ris is the only driver. The only reason we actually purchased the car was for her work so it would be a waste for me to take the time and money for a license.<br /><br /><br /><br />On the subject of work Ris started a part time job at a Cram School in Hirosaki. She only has one class a week as of now but will be getting more class as she gets better at teaching. She is completely fluent in English but has never taught it before. Speaking a language and teaching it are two entirely different things. She may be offered full time at the School which would mean working late every night, sometimes past 10pm, and every weekend. I guess we will make that decision once they offer her the job.<br /><br /><br /><br />On a different note. Risa and I have started a D-tox program. She bought a set of d-tox herbal supplements in Canada when she lived there and has never used them. It was my idea to actually go through with it and I tell ya, I am really regretting it. I haven't had a beer in a week!! We are both having chocolate withdrawals and can't even watch TV anymore because every other commercial is about food! This d-tox program only lasts two weeks with a restricted diet to only vegetables, brown rice, and water. The program isn't as strict as other so you can get away with certain amounts of meats (only chicken and fish) and very small amounts of dairies. We are one week through the program and have yet to kill each other so with perseverance we may just make it. The fist week is supposedly the hardest while your body flushes out all the toxins with the second week allowing your body to fully heal and recharge. That's right, this Shamalama ain't no Hypacrippie!<br /><br /><br /><br />This year we are planning on spending New Years back in Date with her family. Her parents are really looking forward to see me again I hear. (And who wouldn't be!?) New Years is a big holiday here in Japan. New Year's morning is started off with a bang rather than the night before. Everyone wakes up early and a huge feast is prepared. The best part is everyone, including the kiddies, gets a topped off glass of sake first thing in the morning along with a tradition mochi (mushed rice) soup and plenty of sweets afterwards. By the afternoon of January 1st every temple and shrine is packed with visitors who make wishes for the new year and try their first fortune telling for the new year.<br /><br /><br /><br />This will be my first time back to Date since August of last year. My good friends the Griffith's will be staying in Date for the holidays giving me a chance to see them. Not seeing the kids for more than a year will be a huge surprise in itself. I won't have nearly enough time to see everyone I know there but I will give a warning that The Seamus will be back for a short time only!<br /><br /><br /><br />I'll sign out here with a short list of PS3 games that have received good reviews. Just in case somebody **cough** TD/TM happens to be out shopping and finds themselves at a store that carries games. One of the coolest things about the PS3 is that there are no region protection. I can play American games as easily as Japanese titles.<br /><br /><br /><br />Assassin's Creed<br /><br />Ratchet and Clank<br /><br />Need for Speed Pro Street<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, and note to Jonathan and Ayu. Ris and I have finished Season 3 of Lost and are working on Heroes now. The big question that lingers on my mind is who the heck is Richard (Batmanuel) and why has he not aged at all since he first met childhood Ben!?</div><div></div><div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fseamus.couch%2Falbumid%2F5139210537212832641%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss"></embed>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-70606878194655392252007-10-14T17:04:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:21.585-08:00Good Friends, Loud Music, and Dead Fish!Three highlights of my trip to Shimokita with Dustin and Ris.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxK0pyneA4I/AAAAAAAABVI/DsAoaZPYuq0/s1600-h/DSC_0464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121354356328629122" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxK0pyneA4I/AAAAAAAABVI/DsAoaZPYuq0/s320/DSC_0464.JPG" border="0" /></a>Saturday morning Dustin arrives in Aomori City after a long overnight ferry ride from Hokkaido. We meet up with him at the station. Ris has reserved a rental car for three days and I pull out some extra cash for the weekend. The rental guy picks us up at the station, we pay for the car, and we start to drive north. That is our pre-departure planning in its entirety for our three days of exploring Shimokita.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxK1OineA5I/AAAAAAAABVQ/MMx-i4o7gkw/s1600-h/DSC_0460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121354987688821650" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxK1OineA5I/AAAAAAAABVQ/MMx-i4o7gkw/s320/DSC_0460.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><em>Our fearless Jeeves.</em></p><br /><br />Well not really, but close enough. Ris and I pretty much left all the planning up to Dustin, a veteran of traveling in Japan. Our destinations of Osore-san and Oma were pretty clear but our route was pretty much anything goes.<br /><br />We started north at about 9:30 am on Saturday and reached Osore-san by noon. Dustin gave me a short history on the region once we were there. "Osore" literally means "fear". Yep, we actually made plans to travel to Mt. Fear! I am not too clear on the history but it seems this area is a place that spirits come in order to cross to the afterlife according to the local Buddhists.<br /><br /><br />We made a few stops on the road north. Along one of the mountain roads we caught a small spring and shrine that are very common in Japan. Also, Dustin wanted to stop by a small train station to buy a "collector" ticket or something. Apparently the crazy guy has been to every train station in Hokkaido that sells these special tickets and now he is getting started on Honshu.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxLyqCneA6I/AAAAAAAABVY/2H38W3C-ieY/s1600-h/DSC_0468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121422530344518562" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxLyqCneA6I/AAAAAAAABVY/2H38W3C-ieY/s320/DSC_0468.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxLzayneA7I/AAAAAAAABVg/Tgs0C5jch9Y/s1600-h/DSC_0474.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121423367863141298" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxLzayneA7I/AAAAAAAABVg/Tgs0C5jch9Y/s320/DSC_0474.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><em>Drink the Urine of the Mountain and be free my children.</em></p><br /><br />MT. FEAR!<br /><br />Osore-san is quite active it seems. After I relieved myself we<br />happened upon some active sulfur pools that really weren't that hot.<br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122462002624464066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxakDSneBMI/AAAAAAAABXg/nCcOEfYlvKc/s320/DSC_0483.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxL0ICneA8I/AAAAAAAABVo/hesJJqpfvDc/s1600-h/DSC_0533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121424145252221890" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxL0ICneA8I/AAAAAAAABVo/hesJJqpfvDc/s320/DSC_0533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxL1FCneA9I/AAAAAAAABVw/q7n-xseqwxM/s1600-h/DSC_0513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121425193224242130" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxL1FCneA9I/AAAAAAAABVw/q7n-xseqwxM/s320/DSC_0513.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center"><em>Have you seen my record?</em></p><br /><br />Once you get past the temple area you are free to walk the grounds. I will tell you they got the name right when they decided to call the place Fear! It was actually quit eerie behind the temple area. There were these piles of rocks everywhere with little messages written on them and the occasional child's toy stuck between the cracks. The pinwheels were especially creepy.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121821438317036658" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRddineBHI/AAAAAAAABXA/f3CDEgtnUp0/s320/DSC_0563.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Dustin informed me that the children's toys placed around the shrines were for children who had perished before their parents. They were stuck in some kind of Buddhist purgatory and apparently bored. The occasional crow didn't help the mood either.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121813449677865970" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRWMineA_I/AAAAAAAABWA/0WErOjL6ll0/s320/DSC_0572.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />The whole area was very beautiful though. The lake behind the sulfur grounds was a very deep blue with yellow shores, and the occasional Buddha statue made for a relaxing atmosphere.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121813956484006914" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRWqCneBAI/AAAAAAAABWI/bjtCDhFKxA8/s320/DSC_0574.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121814652268708882" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRXSineBBI/AAAAAAAABWQ/x2zeCkK_xO4/s320/DSC_0597.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />After Osore-san we made our way to the most northern point of mainland Japan. Oma is famous throughout Japan for their high quality tuna. We arrived right at sunset when most of the shops were closing down but managed a few shots.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121816116852556850" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRYnyneBDI/AAAAAAAABWg/zq3MnPyLoLo/s320/DSC_0728.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />We asked a local where we could get some of this famous tuna. She gave us some simple instructions for a nice little restaurant downtown (and yes we got lost in a freakin' fishing village WITH a GPS unit in the car...) THIS TUNA WAS AMAZING! I have never eaten such fresh raw tuna before. This stuff just melted in your mouth. We decided to stay the night in Oma since it would be about a three hour drive back to Kuroishi. This would also give us the chance to possibly catch a glimpse of the morning fish market.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121817066040329282" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRZfCneBEI/AAAAAAAABWo/KvwKqoI27iY/s320/DSC07047.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />We missed the catch of the day tuna haul thanks to our incompetent hotel staff so we asked around about a demonstration of tuna carving. We were lucky enough to catch the last show of the year.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121817637270979666" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRaASneBFI/AAAAAAAABWw/rwZdZMwZwSc/s320/DSC_0782.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121818315875812450" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxRanyneBGI/AAAAAAAABW4/_7gQjNC9ZGc/s320/DSC_0834.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><em>Come touch my tuna! It bring long life and happy time.</em></p><br /><br />This tuna was HUGE! Fully gutted it weight in at 140 kilos which is about twice my weight. The coolest part was after the whole tuna was carved though. Our foreigner power granted us a couple of tickets to eat some of the freshly carved tuna. They would let you scrap the flesh right off the rib cage of this thing, dip it into some soy sauce and wasabi, and munch it right down. I love the idea of sanitation in this country.<br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122463286819685586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxalOCneBNI/AAAAAAAABXo/7myehCzvxAk/s320/DSC_0860.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />After our tribal breakfast we headed south along the coast towards Hotokegaura. They say these rock formations resemble Buddhas...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122464695568958690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxamgCneBOI/AAAAAAAABXw/kQGWMu6REvg/s320/DSC_1050.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />We made it home to Kuroishi that night and took Dustin to one of our favorite ramen joints. God I missed ramen!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122465356993922290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxanGineBPI/AAAAAAAABX4/2PlAtCCyLdw/s320/DSC_1064.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />The last day of a three day weekend should always end in an onsen. About 30 km out of Kuroishi is a very famous mixed bath hot spring. They claim you can fit 1000 naked people in this thing at one time and they have a poster on the wall to prove it. It might help that 90% of them are wrinkled old people.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxanmSneBQI/AAAAAAAABYA/9QAMXi_PKm0/s1600-h/DSC07099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122465902454768898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxanmSneBQI/AAAAAAAABYA/9QAMXi_PKm0/s320/DSC07099.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a half hour of trying to relax in the bath with naked young women surrounding me and trying not to notice all the dirty old men ogling Risa, Dustin takes us back to the apartment. We say our goodbyes and he heads off to catch his ferry home. All around a perfect weekend.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5122466559584765202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RxaoMineBRI/AAAAAAAABYI/QjX9Ir1aedM/s320/DSC07096.JPG" border="0" />Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-43633387094681269412007-09-19T16:35:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:21.745-08:00Nothin' special...<div align="left">As the title dictates, nothing special has really happened in the last few weeks...or month...hehe.<br /><br />The job is great, the apartment is looking good, and it has finally cooled off to a livable temperature here. I am still in the introduction part of my job, i.e. half of every class I teach is spent with me introducing myself so the job hasn't been too demanding yet. The last class I didn't even have time for the lesson plan. As soon as the kids found out I was proficient in Japanese it was 45 minutes of straight questions. Now these are questions from 8 or 9 year old little tykes mind you. For example; "What is your favorite bug?"<br /><br />This is actually a pretty standard question from Japanese children and I was more than ready with the correct answer.<br /><br />"Hmmm, my favorite bug? Kabutomushi of course!"<br /><br />The kids crack up and start screaming; "They have kabutomushi in America?!"<br /><br />Kabutomushi is a general term for the Rhinoceros Beetle. <span><span>I am not actually sure if these beetles exist in the States<br />but the truth is the kids really don't care one way or another.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RvG3FQLWANI/AAAAAAAABKY/4F79XMC7XMk/s1600-h/d55.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RvG3FQLWANI/AAAAAAAABKY/4F79XMC7XMk/s320/d55.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112068352911999186" /></a><br />(I stole this image ;P)<br /><br />You can buy this bug at almost any hardware store in Japan. You can either buy a full grown bug or this huge larva and raise your own. The bug is actually very docile and will let you hold it and play with it. The kids hold "wrestling" matches between the bugs which are very fun to watch. It seems that in the wild the male beetles compete for dominance by throwing each other off logs, or branches, etc. with their horns. These matches can even be viewed on national television!<br /><br />Here are a few more examples of the questions I recieved.<br /><br />"How big are your shoes?"<br />"Do they have animals in America?"<br />"Who is the person you like the most?"<br />"How big are your hands?" (I had no idea how to answer this one...)<br />"Are you wearing contacts?" (I was wearing my glasses at the time. This is a pretty standard question after they see my blue eyes.)<br /><br />I managed to dig up a picture of me teaching from my supervisor here. This was one of my first days teaching and was a little nervous. When I am nervous and have no clue what I am doing I tend to put my hands behind my back...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RvG46ALWAOI/AAAAAAAABKg/HwWYdOBGg14/s1600-h/P8290050.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RvG46ALWAOI/AAAAAAAABKg/HwWYdOBGg14/s320/P8290050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112070358661726434" /></a><br />What post isn't complete without a picture of me, eh Smatt?</div>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-45323853982778021452007-08-23T03:38:00.000-07:002008-11-12T21:50:22.213-08:00Finally Settled...Almost.Finally back in Aomori. I had flown down to Tokyo to help Risa with the move up here last Saturday and just arrived back here in Kuroishi. It was an uneventful move luckily (besides the cell phone). It's usually quite expensive to move in Japan, sometimes in the thousands of dollars just to move inter-prefecturally, plus key money/deposit money, etc. Risa managed to fit all of her belongings, plus a few things of mine I had left in her apartment, into one crate which cost only a few hundred dollars to get shipped to our apartment in Kuroishi. It should arrive tomorrow and we can finish moving in!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFHlEQijkI/AAAAAAAABIM/0-xaqdhctrg/s1600-h/DSC06808.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFHlEQijkI/AAAAAAAABIM/0-xaqdhctrg/s320/DSC06808.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102938554911329858" border="0" /></a>We had a few free days in Tokyo to relax and do some shopping. We spent one day in Akibahara Electric Town where I bought a few "desperately needed" things. We also went out a few nights with some of Risa's college friends that she will be leaving in the move.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFJKkQijlI/AAAAAAAABIU/92OVRI5U364/s1600-h/DSC06824.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFJKkQijlI/AAAAAAAABIU/92OVRI5U364/s320/DSC06824.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102940298668052050" border="0" /></a>One night we met up with a couple good friends of Risa's, one of which is a singer/songwriter with a few albums released independently. His alias for his singing career is Danny. And according to him his first major label debut will be this November. He is quite a character! If you look closely in this picture you can see a white blotch on his crotch (if you care to look). Right before he came to meet us a taxi drove over a tube of dry wall compound and squirted the white goop all over him!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFKH0QijmI/AAAAAAAABIc/f2PCCUk4QVQ/s1600-h/DSC06833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u4rLwgat6Po/RtFKH0QijmI/AAAAAAAABIc/f2PCCUk4QVQ/s320/DSC06833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102941350935039586" border="0" /></a>The day before the move we stayed at Risa's sister's place. We had some time to kill that afternoon so we went to a local onsen (hot spring bath) in Chofu. It was a great little bath house! They provided you with towels and your own little bath house outfit (I couldn't help but break out my Chan moves). The water was a dark brown color but felt really good on your skin. There was one bath where the bottom was covered in small pebbles. You could walk around in it and get an excellent foot massage.Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-64914868435878066302007-08-18T19:14:00.000-07:002007-08-18T19:31:27.617-07:00Doh!So, I was walking to the station yesterday to catch my train to Hirosaki, where I would catch the bus to the airport and fly down to Tokyo. I figured as I walked to the station I could email Risa and let her know I am on time and about to arrive at the station.<br /><br />If you have been to Japan you will know that they have torrential rain sometimes. There are large drainage diteches along all roadsides with large heavy cement blocks covering them. There are small holes in the blocks so they can be removed and replaced.<br /><br />I pull out my cellphone.<br /><br />I flip it open with one hand. (This is very cool looking.)<br /><br />It flys from my hand, bounces twice, opens up, and slips perfectly into the small crack in the sidewalk.<br /><br />There is about a 2 second delay, and I hear a *curr plunk*.<br /><br />Yep, cell phone is gone for good. I have no way to contact Risa, I have no phone numbers of my emergency contacts in Kuroishi, and not to mention I just spent three days at Aomori Orientation gathering phone numbers and emails of other Aomori JETs. All of who's are only recorded in my cellphone.<br /><br />I am writing this from Risa's apartment in Tokyo. So I did make it here with no problems and we are going to call Willcom today and see if I can get it replaced.<br /><br />Take this as a warning people. If you drop your cell phone it will find the nearest hole and fall down it.Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011707522817571429.post-62628502485255697672007-08-07T17:42:00.002-07:002007-08-07T17:58:47.808-07:00First week back in Japan!<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Well, it has been over a week now that I have arrived back in Japan. After a very long and boring orientation in Tokyo I was flown to my host prefecture. For those not in the know a host prefecture, or city/town, is a reference to a local Board of Eduction in Japan that has hired a native English speaker through the JET Program (HAHA no “me” at the end ya limy bastards!) to teach English classes.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I have been applying for this position for the past year. It is a long and arduous process but well worth the effort. To say the least, JET's are paid ridiculous amounts of money compared to the Japanese teachers we will be working with. They all know this and probably just add it to the long list of reasons to further differentiate foreigns from themselves. Yes, we are all lazy and the only way we will put up with the Japanese system is if large sums of money are thrown at us.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fseamus.couch%2Falbumid%2F5096124465976627473%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="192" width="288"></embed><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My first week has been great! I have a huge apartment with two bedrooms, a living area, and a brand new bath. (Apparently the woman before me complained so much that they actually replaced her entire bathroom!) I have spent most of my free time so far cleaning the place up and throwing out large amounts of pink doilies, blankets, pillows, cups, clothes, place mats, etc. I think the JET before me should be submitted to a mental institute for an abnormal obsession with the color pink.</p><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fseamus.couch%2Falbumid%2F5096126179668578721%3Fkind%3Dphoto%26alt%3Drss" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="267" width="400"></embed><br /><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">It has been a busy week but my supervisor and I found time to visit the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City. This festival is HUGE. It lasts almost a week with two hour parades of dancers, floats, and huge drums every night. The last night there is a fireworks show. We caught the Monday night parade which turned out to be the largest with over 22 floats. The Japanese sure know how to celebrate! I have heard a few theories about the history of Nebuta, from a celebration of the departure of troops to war, to a theory that the general who was sent north to subdue the barbaric tribes in the 800s used huge lanterns shaped like demons as a scare tactic.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Every year the JET's are given a chance to participate in the festivities. They can rent costumes, or buy, and dance in one of the groups. While this sounds like a once in a lifetime chance I decided to pass this year. It wouldn't have been the first time I have participated in a Japanese festival and I really didn't feel like crashing at a fellow JET's apartment in Aomori City for a night nor did I feel like trying to reserve a hotel for the night. Living in Kuroishi without a car my last chance to get home is at 9:30 from Hirosaki City which really limits my late night travel distance. I figure next year I will be more settled in and can fully take in the festivities, late night drinkin and all!</p>Shamalamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837878412125845687noreply@blogger.com2